A TOTAL of 394 inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s district jail in Barangay Kaputatan Sur, Medellin town in northern Cebu were treated to a free medical and dental mission conducted by the Rotary Club of Metro Cebu (RCMC) on Saturday, June 29, 2019.

Dr. Josefina Zabate, RCMC director and mission chief, said the day-long medical and dental mission accomplished 368 medical checkups for various ailments, 16 tooth extractions and 10 surgeries. Free medicines were given to all patients.

The mission was conducted with the help of St. Michael’s Multispecialty Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Balay Kahayag, Juanito King Foundation and the All-terrain Medical Relief Organization (Amro).

Supt. Gil Icunia, Medellin District Jail warden, said the jail was built for 40 inmates, but the facility now houses 608 inmates, mostly awaiting trial of their drug cases.

A bigger building, which costs P28 million, is undergoing construction.

Icunia said inmates afflicted with tuberculosis were placed in a separate and isolated cell to avoid the spread of the ailment to other inmates. He said they were given free TB medicines from the minicipal

health center.

On Friday, June 28, RCMC members led by the couple Dr. Josefina Zabate and architect Jonathan Zabate distributed bags and school supplies to elementary students in Gibitngil Island, a 15-minute ride by motorbanca from Medellin mainland. (S)